Vehicle-top.



A. MOORHOUSE.

v VEHICLE TOP. Y APPLICATION FILE?) JAN. 3, 1914. v I 1 1 33 65%. Patented Mar.30,1915.

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I wmms mvEram R Af- MOORHOUSE; V HICLE TOP. APPLIQATIQN. FILED JAN. a"; 1914.

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WWHEssEs PatentedlE/iar. 30, 1915.

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GQMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED lVlOORHOUSE,. a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of \Vayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement 1n Vehicle-Tops, and declare the following'to be a full, clear, and exact pose with any top in common use.

In the drawings:Figure 1, is a fragmentary side view of the forward part of an automatic body, top and the wind-shield.

Fig. 2-, is a fragmentary elevational view of the wind-shield, the inside of the top and the inside .ofthe body of an automobile. This is taken from the drivers seat, looking toward the wind-shield. Fig. 3, is a fragmentary plan view of the top collapsed, showing the disposition of one of the brace rods. Fig. at, is a side view of an automobile body and top, showing the one man form. and my invention applied thereto.

The one man form of top for automobiles is fast coming into popular. favor by reason of the fact that it may be collapsed or raised by the driver unaided, whereas the old form of top requires assistance for one attempting to raise or collapse it. The o1'i.e man form of top is built on the cantaliver principle. I have shown here 1n Fig. f, one

of the forms of one man top.v 'Itcon sists of a major bow to which 1s pivotedone long bow b and one short bow 0. Each of these bows is provided with suitable bow sockets. The forward long bow at carries a jointed cantaliver in the form of lazytongs which terminates in the forward shaping-bow (Z. This form of one man top construction is only one of many that might be used and I am merely describing it'to Specification of Letters-ratent.

VEHICLE-TOP.

Patented Mar. 3%, 1915.

Application filed January 8, 191% Serial No. 810,946.

show the utility of my invention in connection with a one man top.

It will be observed that the forward end of the cantaliver construction is supported ,for considerable distance; Although straps have been used to help fix this overhanging portion of the top in position still its un steadiness and lack of strength has been and still is arecognized'defect It is the purpose of my invention to do away with this unsteadiness and yet at the same time not to interfere with the facile operation of this style of top, or with the swinging of the wind-shield. This I accomplish by providmg a bearing j, preferably'cylindrical, extending outwardly from the wind-shield joint. A brace arm 70 is pivoted to the bow d near the point of curvature where it turns to form the front of the top. This pivoting is such that the brace arm may swing transversely of the top (see Fig. 2). The lower end of the brace arm terminates in a split ring 07. the portions of which can be tightened or loosened by the winged screw m. Hence the split-ring may be slipped directly ov r the bearing j and the winged screw m tightened and the brace rod will be in position for service. There is a brace rod on-each side and this operation is so simple that the brace rods may e quickly placed for service or may be quickly detached. #lVhen they are detached they hang loosely until the forward cantaliver structure of the topohas been gathered together, the bows at the rear folded together, and the front bow (2 turned backwardover the rest of the top whereupon they will occupy the position shownin Jig. 3. It cannot move siaewise when lying upon the collapsed top and its weight serves to keep it from moving up and down. lVhen the cover is placed over the collapsed top the brace rods are not only concealed but are safely stowed away.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated the windshield'in dotted lines in a second position.

secured in its various positions. This screw by' the body,

is axially in line with the bearing 7', andthe bearing is of such a size'that the ring at will pass over the screw 4) without interfering with it.

\Vhat I claim is:. p

1. The combination of a vehicle body provided with a wind-shield, a top supported by the body, a bearing extended from the joint of the wind-shield and a rigid brace rodvpivotally secured to the forward end of the top and detachably secured to the extended bearing, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a vehicle body provided with a wind-shield, a 'top'supported an extended bearing at the wind-shield joint, a rigid brace rod pivoted to the top at the forward end so as toswing only in a plane transverse the top and detachably secura-ble to the extended bearing, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a vehicle body provided with a wind-shield, a top supported bearing at the by. the body, an extended wind-shield.j'oint,- and a brace rod swingingly supported by the top at the forward end and having vided with a screw whereby the brace rod may be secured to a split ring terminal prov the extended bearing, substantially as e described, 

